The team at the Hertfordshire agency, based in Shapps’ constituency of Welwyn Hatfield, said they had worked "tirelessly" to secure the audience.

Off Broadway has campaigned for the meeting since the transport secretary appeared to brand agents a thing of the past at a government press briefing in May – sparking fury throughout the trade.

Natalie Bennett, one of the agency’s partners, called the meeting "immensely important for the whole industry."

"This meeting is immensely important. It’s our chance to get our voice across and be heard. It’s not just for us, it’s for the whole industry, it’s for everybody," Bennett told TTG.

"We are really happy that he’s coming down to see us, and we can actually have a chat with him about the travel industry and the hard times we’ve had through the pandemic."

Bennett said the meeting was an opportunity for Shapps to experience how travel agents work first-hand.

"We will talk to him about all aspects of the industry, not just aviation. We’ll look at it from a travel agent’s point of view and a tour operator’s point of view, because we have been hit really hard, as everybody has been, but our industry, we’re the first ones into it and we will definitely be the last ones out of it," she added.

"We are not here to scream and shout at him or anything like that – we want to sit down and have a discussion and get him to understand how the industry works."

Bennett further urged industry members with questions for Shapps to get in touch with Off Broadway via its Twitter page, or by emailing enquiries@offbroadwaytravel.com before the meeting next month.